Win Some, Lose Some

You have to wonder what was going through McNabb's head on Sunday.

After giving up two draft picks to get him, and after winning as many games in their first seven as they had all last season, the Redskins unceremoniously benched McNabb for Rex 'Turnover Machine' Grossman. Rex, of course, turned the ball over on his very first snap, and Detroit returned his fumble for the game-sealing TD.

His play had been mediocre, and (typically) frustrating in third-down, red zone, and two-minute situations, but...Rex Grossman? If he's the answer, I don't want to know the question.

Even more unbelievably, Shanahan today claimed he made the decision because McNabb is out of shape and doesn't have the cardiovascular endurance to run a two-minute drill.

I've never been a McNabb defender, but something's not right about this statement. McNabb lost 30 pounds in the offseason, and is in the best shape of his life. He was also the Redskins' leading rusher on the day (45 yards.) So to imply that he's unfit, and somehow couldn't physically handle the rigors of the last two minutes of a football game (after playing the first 58) is preposterous.

McNabb has shown nothing but prickly sensitivity to public comments during his entire career. Shanahan couldn't possibly believe that personally attacking him in the media would help the Redskins. While I've long respected him as a coach, and long mocked McNabb, this is clear evidence that Shanny's ego is out of control.

Also clear is that the Eagles made the right decision by trading him - a decision I supported, even within the division. Both Kolb and Vick have looked great by comparison.

The Eagles also announced today the benching of Ellis Hobbs at CB, with special teams gunner Dmitri Patterson again, why did the Eagles trade Sheldon Brown? With no depth on the team to replace him, and no plan in the draft to target a CB, that decision looks curiouser and curiouser.

Every time Andy makes a good move, he couples it with a boneheaded one. Some things never change.